If you haven't heard of the 'Oola phenomenon' yet, it's time to catch up. First, though, you need to understand what it is: Oola is that state of awesomeness you experience when your life is balanced and growing in all the key areas of health and well-being. It can be a noun or a verb. It can be a destination or a feeling. It can be as complex as a life growing and balanced in fitness, finance, family, field, faith, friends, and fun (the 7 F's of Oola), or as simple as a sunset, a quiet book on the beach, or a special moment with a child. It is that place we all shoot for in life. That feeling we experience and that we celebrate in our successes along the way. In short, Oola is cool.

Since the first copy of the original book, Oola: Find balance in an Unbalanced World, rolled off the presses a few years ago, the Oola Lifestyle has become a literal phenomenon—a dynamic movement. OolaPalooza live events have been routinely sold out since the day they were started, and the Oola message has been taken to countless cities across America and to every major city in the world via 700,000+ Oola fans on social media. In their 1970s VW Surf bus, authors Troy Amdahl and Dave Braun have taken their OolaDream tour on the road, from coast-to-coast, collecting dreams and goals for a balanced life from people who adorn their vehicle with colorful Oola stickers.

The OolaGuys know that women are the ultimate multitaskers. While a circus performer might spin seven plates in a single show, women spin seven plates—figuratively—every day. They not only juggle kids, family, and home life, they also juggle work responsibilities, customers and clients, make constant business decisions, handle professional events and so many related activities that it's truly mind-boggling how much a woman can pack into a 24-hour day. In this Oola especially for them, the book shows, through the experiences of 54 inspiring women, how to overcome unexpected hardships, and transform the juggling act of everyday life into a dream lifestyle of simplicity, tranquility, abundance, and opportunity. That's what 'living Oola' means—and it's not only an attainable goal, but a well-deserved reward.

Introduction

Ooh la la . . . that's what life feels like when you're happy, growing, and looking forward to what the world has in store for you.

It's the feeling you get when you've landed that better job, grown a bigger business, or watched your kids succeed at something they're passionate about. It's what you tell yourself when you've bought that dream house, saved your first $1,000, or paid off the last of your debts. It's the confidence you feel being fit and date-night ready for the first time in years—or the sense of wonder and enchantment you feel on your first trip to Paris with the girls.

Whatever rocks it for you, Oola means living life firing on all cylinders—joyful, wholehearted, and ready to take advantage whenever good times and opportunity appear.

The History of Oola

Since the first copy of the original Oola book rolled off the presses a few years ago, the Oola lifestyle has become a phenomenon with readers seeking balance in an unbalanced world. Over 100,000 copies of the book have been sold, without a publisher, out of the back of our 1970 VW Surf Bus—while tens of thousands more people have handwritten their dreams on stickers and stuck them to the sides of the OolaBus. Many others have even gotten Oola tattoos to remind them to 'Live Oola' and pursue their dreams. And our OolaPalooza live events have been routinely sold out since the day we started them. The Oola message has taken us to countless cities across America and (via the nearly one million Oola fans on social media) to every major city in the world.

So who are the majority of Oola book readers, event attendees, and social media followers? Who are the people embracing the Oola message and incorporating these simple life-changing principles into their daily lives?

Women.

When we realized this trend, it made perfect sense. While a circus performer might spin seven plates in a single show, women spin seven plates (figuratively) every day. They juggle work, kids, family, and home life—hoping there's room left in there somewhere for 'me time.' And if you own a small business or have a demanding career (as many of our readers do), you also juggle customers, clients, sales, marketing, professional events, and so many related activities that it's truly mind-boggling how much you pack into a twenty-four-hour day.

We think you're awesome. And we want to help transform the juggling act you do every day into a dream lifestyle of simplicity, tranquility, abundance, and opportunity. That's what 'living Oola' means—and for you, it's not only an attainable goal, but a well-deserved reward.

Let's Revisit: The 7 F's of Oola

In the first Oola book, we said that to create a balanced life—one that's extraordinary and linked to your unique purpose and future goals—there are seven areas to focus on: fitness, finance, family, field (career), faith, friends, and fun. Oola for Women tackles these same seven areas of life—helping you create a vibrant, but manageable lifestyle that supports your goals and helps you live your best and highest purpose.

In the seven chapters of Section Two, we'll help you do what's necessary to feel good, look good, and have enough energy to pursue your OolaLife—instead of constantly yo-yoing with diet products and exercise programs that actually do harm. You'll learn to forget what the rest of the world believes about money and investing—and instead, simplify your life by taking control of your debt, spending, earning, giving, and investing. We'll show you how to nurture the loving relationships and establish proper boundaries around the toxic ones—from your core family to your distant relatives, and others.

If you're not in your dream job now, we'll help you decide what you'd truly like to do, figure out how to get paid for it—then create a plan to transition. We'll help you discover your true purpose in life, accessing faith in your own path to Oola through a relationship with God. Along the way, we want to help you cultivate a support structure of friends who 'get you' and unconditionally love and support you. And finally, we want to make sure you plan fun adventures—from mini-breaks in your own backyard to 'bucket list' getaways around the world—as the most enjoyable perks of living the Oola lifestyle.

OolaBlockers and OolaAccelerators

Of course, as you're creating balance in the seven areas above, sometimes internal dialog and old habits get in the way. They block you from creating the life you want. In the opposite way, there are certain habits and actions that will accelerate the process—helping you get to a 'state of Oola' faster than you thought possible.

We call these influencers Blockers and Accelerators, and you'll discover these in Sections Three and Four. From eliminating fear to learning how to erase guilt, anger, shame—and even overcoming laziness—you'll discover how to banish self-sabotage and focus on your future.

Once you're past these blocks, it's time to change the way you roll—with accelerators like gratitude, love, discipline, passion, and wisdom. We'll show you how to find those things you love that will ignite your journey and make the OolaLife that much more enjoyable.

Oola in Action

The Oola formula is simple. Once you read about it, it's time to develop some concrete plans for getting there. In Section Five, the real work begins of defining where you are today, where you want to go, and how you're going to get there. We'll help you hone in on what's working right now—and what you need to start working on first.

With simple life hacks like writing your must-do's on a 3x5 card, assembling your go-to crew of supporters, and doing the worst first (plus many more), we've got a way to help you fast-track yourself to the OolaLife.

Start Living the OolaLife Today

Along the way, we'll share the stories of women from all walks of life who have many of the same dreams, goals, desires—and downfalls—as you might have. Many of them are women we've met at Oola events. Others are women we met as they wrote their dreams on stickers for the OolaBus. Still others have shared their story with us on social media. These women are inspiring because they're ordinary women doing extraordinary things.

Some of them are facing challenges or awkwardly learning the ropes or caught up in a 'season' they're working through. These women are Seeking Oola, while others whose stories you'll read have mastered the OolaLife—they're Living Oola and have wisdom, insights and lessons to impart.

Wherever you are and whatever your goals, Oola for Women is here to be your guide, your playbook, and your go-to resource for getting from where you are now to where you want to be.

Master the 7 F's of Oola, get solid on the Accelerators, crush the Blockers, and follow the 3 Simple Steps to the OolaLife—and you'll be on your way to living the deepest desires of your heart.

Dave Braun (Salt Lake City, Utah) is a native of Napoleon, North Dakota, and is co-author, with Troy Amdahl, of the international bestselling book Oola: Find Balance in an Unbalanced World. Dave found material success at a young age while under the mentorship of Troy, who taught him how to live the Oola principles of balance. He eventually drifted from them, however, and found himself bankrupt, divorced, disconnected, and living in a motel. At rock bottom, he sought out Troy, the OolaGuru, knowing he needed help to get his Oola back. The OolaSeeker vowed that if this worked, he would share Oola with the world. It did, and today he and Troy travel the country in a 1970 VW Surf Bus, speaking to groups, collecting dreams, and helping people find balance, purpose, and growth through the 7 F's of Oola. Visit oolalife.com.

Troy Amdahl (Phoenix, Arizona) is a Rochester, Minnesota, native and co-author with Dave Braun of the international bestselling book Oola: Find Balance in an Unbalanced World. The OolaGuru, he graduated cum laude from Northwestern Health Sciences University, then became a devoted husband and father, and a successful businessman who traveled the world, retired debt-free at 42, and was an Ironman triathlete. Once a year, he and a group of friends—including Dave, the OolaSeeker who sought him out as a mentor— would meet to set goals and find balance and growth in the key areas of life, the synthesis of which became the philosophy and movement that is Oola. Today, Troy and Dave travel the country in a 1970 VW Surf Bus, speaking to groups, collecting dreams, and helping people find balance, purpose, and growth through the 7 F's of Oola. Visit oolalife.com.